King’s flair for gutsy, Joplin-esque vocalizing and consciously outré image-making raises the heat throughout this spicy gumbo of candor (“Sober,” the handjob-giving middle-school “It Girl”), self-mythologizing (“Baby Outlaw,” Duffy-evoking single “Shame”), and righteous vengeance on an ex who abused her trust (the slinky “Man’s Man”). Musically slicker and lyrically grittier than 2015’s “Love Stuff,” this embrace of electronic beats alongside King’s blues, country and soul influences (swoony lament “Good Thing Gone” is a highlight) signals unconventionality while raising hopes she’ll be in more focused command of her life and next album. At Belasco Theatre in LA Nov. 12. elleking.com